Pool-table.



M. Hr OLSEN. POOL TABLE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1911.

2 1 9 1 0 1 C e D m H 6 Lb a P L T n E K Hv T E E H B 5 M. H. OLSEN.

' POOL TABLE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. H. OLSEN.

POOL TABLE. APPLIOATION FILED ran. a, 1911.

6 sums-sum a.

0 1 c e D d w n w a P M. H. OLSEN.

POOL TABLE. APPLIOATION FILED 11:13.3, 1911.

' Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

6 QHEETS-SHEET 4.

M. H. OLSEN.

POOL TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.3, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

- the various parts of the device.

' subsequent game.

MARTIN H. OLSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POOL-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10', 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN H. OLSEN, of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool- Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates more particularly to means for collecting the balls as they are driven intothe pockets and segregating them in separate groups accordingly as they have been secured by one player or another, and subsequently collecting the balls of the several groups in a suitable receptacle and returning them to the table for use in a In an earlier application, Serial Number 571,390, filed July 11, 1910, I have described and shown a pool table of this description in which the balls are collected in separate groups according to the players who secure them, but the means there shown provides for but a pair of groups by reason of which the use of the device is limited to two players. In the present invention, however, the balls may be segregated into a greater number of groups, it being possible to pro- .vide for as many players as canvconveniently use a table during a single game and in the embodiment of my inve tion disclosed in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description, provision is made for the use of the table by six players, but it will be obvious that the table can be modified to accommodate a greater or less number of players, if it is seen fit, without departing from my invention.

Turning to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my table with the top thereof removed; 2 is a central vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain parts, however, being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,.looking in the direction of the arrows;

an end of the table with parts shown in section; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the table and Figs, 6 and 7 are horizontal sections of a portion of: the table on the lines 6-6 and 7-7 respectively, of Fig. 4:.

The same characters are used throughout the specification and drawings -to designate Referring more particularly to ,Fi s. 1 and 2, the table itself is or maybe 0 the Fig. i is a side elevation of usual construction, having the cushions 1, top'2, legs 3 and pockets 4.. Connected to the bottoms 5 of the pocketsis a system of chutes or ducts branched as at 6 and each branch 7 provided with a series of chutesS leading to the several pockets on that side of the table. It will be -.understood' that the ducts or channels are suitably inclined to cause the balls to roll toward the common duct 9 which leads to-a casing 10 divided into a series of tacks or chambers 11 within which the balls are grouped. As seen more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, each of these racks is provided with a gate 12 except the racks of the foremost pair 11, which latter have a single gate 12 pivoted between them, as at 13, to swing to one side or the other to divert a ball into the proper channel. I

The gates 12 are pivoted at 13 and adapted to swing across the central space between them to divert the ball into the proper rack or chamber, and upon their arbors outside and above the casing are fixed crank arms 14 which are connected to operating rods 15 having pull handles 16 at their outer ends. These rods extend through the wall of the end of the table, as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 7, and within the thickness of the wall each rod is surrounded by a thimble 17 containing a spring outer end against the plate 19 and at its inner end against a button or flange 20 formed on or secured to the operating rod, the purpose of the spring being to normally return the rod to its inmost position and thereby close the gate. The spring on the operating rod of the gate 12' normally holds that gate in a position rack or chamber 11 as shown in Fig.7 and when the pull is operated the gate closes the opposite rack. Each rack or chamber con- TED STATES PATENT OFFICE. H

e5 18 which abuts at its c to close the right hand sists of two runways or legs 11*, 11", conwhich communicates with are permitted to move inward and thereby cushion the blow.

anyor all of t shoulders or offset portions 23 with which a latch bar 24 (see Figs. 4 and 7) operated by a spring 25 cooperates. The ofiset on each rod with which the latch engages is formed with a forward face 26 suitably inclined to trip the latch bar 24 as the rod is drawn forward. It will therefore be seen that when any of the rods is drawn outward the latch will be raised to release any other rod which it may at the time be detaining, so that except for the front compartments 11 but one compartment is open at a time. One of the front compartments is necessarily always open, but this is immaterial since when any of'the other compartments or racks is open to recelve a ball 1ts gate shuts of entrance to the forward racks.

As heretofore stated, the lower legs or runways of the racks communicate w1th a common discharge passage 27 which is inclined forwardly and provided with a .suitable opening 28. A stop bar 29 is reciprocable in a horizontal direction between the opposite rows of racks and is of sufiicient size to intercept and prevent the passage of any ball from any rack when in 1ts forward position. It extends rearwardly through a guide opening 30 and is connected by pm and slot connections-31 to the upright arm 32 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted to a horizontal rod 33 as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The other arm of the bell crank leveris connected by pin and slot connection to a treadle 35 pivoted at 36, and the pedal and bell crank levers are connected by a spring 37 which-tends to thrust forward the stop bar 29 and to raise the pedal lever 35. It will be obvious that by depressing I the pedal the stop bar 29 will be withdrawn and the balls in the several racks permitted to escape into the outlet channel 27. Beneath the outlet opening 28 is suspended a basket 38 by means of pairs of links 39 and 40, the upper )pair pivoted to the. table as at 41 and the members of the'upper pair connected to the members of the lower pair by.

rule joints.42. 1 Upon the upper edge of the basket is provided a finger-piece 43 by which it may be raised and the balls discharged upon the table, as best shown by the dotted lines in 4.

The operation of my table will now be obvious. With the parts in the position shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 6 and 7 when play is begun, the first player opens the partlcular rack or chamber in which he purposes storing the balls secured by him by pulling outward the knob or handle controlling the corresponding gate which is held open by the latch until the player fails. At the conclusion of his play the next player in order pulls out a second knob, whereby the first is released thereby closing the first players rack, and the second players rack is held open. Each player in turn, before beginning play, operates a difierent knob or handle to open an individual rack which may be assigned him in advance. After the game is finished, in, order to restore the balls which have been pocketed to the table, it is only necessary to depress the tr'eadle 35, thereby withdrawing the stop bar 29, when the balls will be deposited in the basket and may be thence returned to the table.-

It will be obvious that a number of minor modifications may be made without departing from my invention, which is defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pool table having the usual pockets. chutes leading from the pockets, a series of racks communicating with said chutes, each rack comprising an outwardly inclined upper runway and an inwardly inclined lower runway communicating with "each other at their outer ends and both open at the top, the lower runways communicating e'rally of and communicating with the common space into which such chutes lead, eachrack comprising an outwardly inclined upper and an inwardly inclined lower run- -way, the runways connected at their outer ends, I the lower runways communicating with the common discharge, and means for.

closing the entrances to the racks and their communication wit-h the discharge.

3. A pool table having the usual pockets, chutes leading from the pockets, a series of racks having their entrances arranged-on a common inclined plane in the direction of the incline or slope and communicating with such chutes, a plurality of gates normally closin the entrances to said racks, and indgplen ent means for opening the gates at w 4. A pool table having the usual pockets, chutes leading from the pockets, a series of racks having their entrances arranged on a common inclined plane in the direction of the incline and communicating with such chutes, a plurality ofgates normally closing the entrances to said racks, separate rods for opening the gates at will, and means for retaining the gates open.

5. A pool table having the usual pockets, chutes leading from the pockets, a series of racks communicating w1th such chutes, a plurality of gates normally closing the entrances to said racks, separate rods for opening the gates at will, springs on the rods normally tending to close the gates, and a catch bar common to all the rods.

6. A pool table having the usual pockets,

1,046,845 I I t a chutes leading t'rom the pockets, a series of runway open at the top and communicating racks communicating with such chutes, each with such chutes, and having a common rack comprising an upper outwardly 1Il-' discharge, a. stop plate arranged to move chned and a lower inwardly inclined runinto the path of the balls toretain them in way connected at their outer ends, the lower the chutes, a bell crank connected to the runway communicating with a common disstop plate, a treadle suitably pivoted and charge, and a stop plate common to all the connected to the lever, and a spring conracks. nection between the treadle and the lever 7. A 001 table having the usual pockets, for normally elevating the treadleand holdchutes eading from the pockets, a series ing the stop plate in position to intercept of racks each comprising an upper ontballs in the racks.

wardly inclined and a lower inwardly 111- 9. In a pool table, th e combination of a clined runway open at the top and comstationary receptacle for fthe balls having municating with such chutes, a stop plate a common discharge and a basket suspendedcommon to all the chutes for retainlng the from the table by pairsof links pivoted to bails therein and a treadle connected with each other and to the basket and table rea stop plate for throwing the same to perspectively whereby the basket may be raised mit the balls to leave the chutes. above the table and discharged thereon.

5. A pool table having the usual pockets, MARTIN H. OLSEN. chutes leading from the pockets. a series of Witnesses: racks earhcomprising an outwardly in: I JOHN B. MACAULY, clined upper and an inwardly inclined lower LOUIS B. ERWIN. 

